And just like that it’s Christmas time.
I don’t know how to describe this year. It’s has been a long slow slogging through it.
Life has changed until it feels like normal.
Covid. Pandemic. Masks. Essential workers. Words and terms I hadn’t thought of last year are now spoken multiple times a day.
My job in the ER didn’t stop.
And unfortunately our county has been on the news for the hotspot of the nation.
Nothing to brag about here.
It’s been exhausting.
But I am thankful for fabulous coworkers that make the day bearable.
Thanksgiving came and went.
We gathered.
We questioned whether to or not.
The only risky person was me and I had tested negative the week before.
I vacillate between safety and sanity.
Being so afraid of dying that you forget to live.
So we gathered.
So thankful for this photo of all of my grandkids.
I know that these will be harder and harder as the years go by.
Howie has recovered from all of his knee surgeries.
Sheesh.
What a year.
And now we are in this beautiful Christmas season.
We have been busy making candy and doing just a little decorating.
Howie helped a ton this year.
He made all four batches of caramel.
I also made my mom’s cherry cordials.
They are so much work but so delicious.
Dipped cinnamon Santa’s are my kids favorite.
I call these triple nut.
Cashews, macadamia and almonds in caramel.
These will get dipped in chocolate.
Cherry Cordials.
Simple tree.
The view outside my living room window looks like a post card.
Often there will be a herd of deer in the field.
I love it so much here and am so thankful that 4 years ago we made the move.
And of course during this time I also remember four years ago during this time that Howie had his cardiac arrest and was saved by bystander CPR and early defibrillation.
We spent a long 14 days in the hospital. That will go down as my favorite Christmas ever.
In spite of the chaos this year has been I have seen blessings all around me.
I look forward to the future.
I look forward to celebrating the birth of the Savior of the World.
Merry Christmas.
